Buckle.



No. 644,095. 'Patentd Feb. 27, 1900.

c. E. RAUSSEAU.

BUCKLE.

(Application filed Aug. 24, 189 9.) (No Model.)

MUM

WITNESSES INVENTOR A tlm ney THE Norms PETERS 1:0,. Fria'r mol.wasnmcncn. n c.

OOA'ISWORTII E. RAUSSEAU,

AET

OF CLEAR XVATER, FLORIDA.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,095, dated February2'7, 1900.

Application filed August 24, 1899. Serial No. 728,365. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CoATswoRTH E. RAUssEAU, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Clear \Vater, in the county of Hillsborough andState of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBuckles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in buckles adapted for generaluse with straps,

but especially adapted for use upon harness.

The primary object of the invention is to protect and conceal the tongueof the buckle to prevent its catching upon a horses tail or otherobjects with which the buckle is likely to contact.

The construction andnovel features of the improved buckle will be fullydescribed hereinafter and defined in the appended claim in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan View of astrap provided with my improved buckle. Fig. 2 is a central sectionalview of the same, and Fig. 3 is a plan View of the buckle detached withits hinged shield or cover turned back from the buckle-frame.

The frame of the buckle consists of parallel end bars 1 and 2 andparallel side bars 3 and 4:. As shown in Fig. 2, the end bars 0 projectabove the upper surfaces of the side bars to constitute walls, betweenwhich, at one side of the frame, is pivotally secured a cover or shield5 by means of a pin 6, having bearing in the end bars 1 and 2 and ex- 35 tending through an opening formed in a depending enlargement or flange7 of the shield or cover. The under surface of the flange 7 is roundedand beveled to form a 'cam-sur face 8, adapted to bear against a strap9, 0 which extends through the buckle.

10 designates a central cross-bar which is centrally reduced to receivea tongue 11, which is bent around the bar 10 in the usual manner.

The outer surface of the shield or cover 5 is bulged or bentupwardly atits center, as shown at 12, to fit over the point of the tongue, a slit13 being also formed in the shield, through which the end of the tongueprojects.

The operation and utility of the improved buckle will be clear from theforegoing description and accompanying illustrations, but may be brieflydescribed as follows: To the cross-bar 3 of the frame is secured a strap14, the opposite or free end 9 of which passes between the cross-bar 4and the cam extension of the shield or cover. It will be apparent thatan outward pull upon the portion 9 of the strap will cause it to bindtightly against the cam-surface of the shield, thus forcing the freeside of said shield into contact with the strap to hold the shieldclosed.

I claim- A buckle consisting of a frame comprising parallel end bars,side bars; and a central cross-bar; a tongue pivoted upon the centralcross-bar; and a shield or cover pivotally secured between said end barsabove one of said side bars and formed on its under surface below itspivotal point with a cam whereby the shield or cover is held in closedposition by contact with a strap passing between the cam and theadjacent side bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OOATSWORTH E. RAUSSEAU.

Witnesses:

Tnos. J. SHERIDAN, G. G. SHERIDAN.

